Birr fancied to do enough in knockout clash with Kinnitty

By Kevin Egan

Four senior hurling championship games are down for decision on something of a “Super Sunday” this weekend, though realistically most of the interest will settle on two contests – those taking place in Crinkill and Banagher.

We’ll park the somewhat peculiar decision to play all four games together as opposed to finishing one group and then the other, which would have allowed people to attend two games instead of one, should they choose to do so. But if you don’t have a dog in the hunt among the eight teams in action, then the action in Crinkill looks like the top of the bill, with Birr and Kinnitty clashing in what is effectively a straight knockout tie, with the caveat that a draw will do just fine for Birr.

Both sides come into the game with a crisis of confidence, after they were filleted in Banagher last Sunday. Birr can take some consolation from the fact that they were right there at half-time against Shinrone, though their dependence on Eoghan Cahill’s freetaking will be a huge concern. Their star marksman had an incredible day, hitting the target with 14 out of his 15 attempts on goal, many of which were shot from the Birr half of the field. But three scores from the rest of the team, one of which was a goal assisted by Cahill, is a worrying sign for his father and team manager, Gary.

For Kinnitty, however, the problems run even deeper. Their attack was every bit as toothless without a player like Cahill to mask the problem. The Slieve Bloom men haven’t been a freescoring team for a long time and when they are competitive, it’s in low-scoring battles. In recent years they’ve been there or thereabouts against their town neighbours so in that sense it suits them to have this fixture, but Birr still look to have more of the pieces of the puzzle in place, even if they are a long way off where they need to be to end their 16-year championship drought.

Seir Kieran face Tullamore in a fixture that has turned into a de facto relegation semi-final. The Clareen men will hold out hope that Coolderry can do them a favour and take something from their game with Kilcormac-Killoughey, but in all likelihood, they’ll accept that having their season end in Banagher is the best they can realistically hope for.

In beating St Rynagh’s last week, Seir Kieran were energetic, physical, and united in their collective approach. They’d probably prefer to concede fewer scorable frees, particularly against a Tullamore side that plays in a manner designed to win at least a dozen such chances for Shane Dooley, so walking that line will be the big test for the group. The likelihood is they will do so.

In theory, Coolderry can still top the group and sneak into the last four. In practice, it’s almost impossible to see that happen. The two sides who will meet at Rath have played the same three opponents so far, and Kilcormac-Killoughey have been over 20 points per game better.

Whatever he might say publicly, Shane Hand would not be able to remain credible in the K-K dressing room if he tried to argue that Coolderry were a real threat based on history, or anything else really. Instead, it’s the incredible squad depth and the subsequent pressure for places that will keep the champions honest.

Hand will surely finish out the group stages with the same hurlers in order to keep the senior 'B' team intact, but this is a club that needs to target a Leinster title at least. There will be a shake up of the players when the county final and a possible Leinster campaign rolls around, and it’s that impending reshuffle that should ensure another comfortable evening’s work for the Double Ks.

Going into last weekend, Belmont versus Shinrone on the final day looked intriguing. Now, Belmont have nothing to play for, their Ferbane contingent (which is most of them) have a huge senior quarter-final to think of seven days later, and Shinrone look like a transformed side, having put Birr to the sword with an explosive display.

The return of Adrian Cleary was significant for Shinrone, though that boost was mitigated by Declan Cleary’s absence due to a finger injury. But the continued development of players like DJ McLoughlin and Eoin Bailey O’Brien, not to mention the understated but invaluable contribution that the returning Darren Crean made in the full-back line, really proved crucial in pushing Shinrone to a new level.

All of a sudden, they can secure second place and can carry huge momentum into the last eight – Belmont will struggle to match that enthusiasm for the fight with nothing except pride on the table.